After three months of competition, central Missouri teens have selected their March Madness Teen Book Tournament Champion! We began with a list of 16 finalists which included bestsellers such as “Dear Martin” by Nic Stone and popular series starters like “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” by Jenny Han.
Many thanks to the teachers and school librarians who have supported this program, and to all the teens who have participated! And now, our 2021 champion is…
“Renegades” by Marissa Meyer
Subscribe to our teen program newsletter to get a sneak peek of this year’s Summer Reading program, “Tales & Tails.” Through this program, the library challenges young adults to read for 15 hours, share three book reviews and do seven of our suggested activities. Complete the challenge, and you will be eligible to win some pretty awesome prizes like an Amazon Fire tablet! More information to come later this month.
VOTE NOW through April 7 for the tournament champion!
Thank you to all the young adults who have shared their favorites with us! So far, we’ve collected nearly 100 ballots from dozens of area teens. With each round of voting, teens’ names have been entered into a drawing for a chance to win an Amazon Fire tablet. The book tournament winner will be announced on Friday, April 9. Continue reading “2021 Teen Book Tournament Finalists”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Unbound Book Festival is entirely online. Unbound is hosting a variety of weekly author panels, poetry readings and writing workshops through April. Review their full schedule for more details.
Next Tuesday, March 23 at 7 p.m., Unbound will host “Changing Landscapes in YA Fiction” with authors Anuradha Rajurkar, Brie Spangler and Louisa Onomé. Tune in on Facebook or YouTube as these acclaimed YA authors discuss challenges of writing for the next generation of readers.
Anuradha Rajurkar is the author of the newly released young adult novel, “American Betiya.’ In this book, a young artist grapples with first love, family boundaries and the complications of a cross-cultural relationship. Rajurkar is the national recipient of the SCBWI Emerging Voices Award for this debut work. Check out the excerpt! Continue reading “YA Author Panel: Changing Landscapes in YA Fiction”
VOTE NOW through March 22 for the final two contending titles!
During the months of February and March, area young adults have eliminated 12 books to determine their top four favorite titles in the March Madness Teen Book Tournament. Below is the list of contenders remaining after the first two rounds of voting. If you are just joining us, here’s a recap of how you can participate for a chance to win an Amazon Fire tablet. Continue reading “2021 Final Four Announced”
It’s spring! Let’s welcome it in with some fantastic new books.
“Lost in the Never Woods” by Aiden Thomas
If you loved the author’s “Cemetery Boys” from last year, get excited for their version of Peter Pan! Five years ago, Wendy Darling was found wandering in the woods, with no memory of the past six months, and no idea where her two younger brothers were. Wendy’s worked hard to deal with the trauma and grief of losing her brothers, and she’s ready to start nursing school and finally move on with her life. But then children start disappearing again, and a boy named Peter begs for her help. Wendy is drawn back into the half-remembered world of her childhood, and amid shadowy secrets, must face the truth about her past. Continue reading “The Selector’s Selections: March 2021”
After an exciting two months of voting, DBRL is proud to announce the Elite Eight in our March Madness Teen Book Tournament. However, if you are just joining in the fun, here’s a little background to get you caught up. Through a series of votes, we are narrowing the library’s list of the 16 most popular teen books to one grand champion.
Each round you vote, your name will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win an Amazon Fire tablet. Limit one ballot per person, per round. March Madness is open to all teens ages 12-18 who live in either Boone or Callaway County, Missouri. Continue reading “2021 Elite Eight Announced”
The Dogwood Readers Award recognizes quality nonfiction books for school-age youth. Titles are broken down into four grade ranges: K-2; 3-5; 6-8; and 9-12. Below is a complete listing of award finalists for middle school and high school readers.
This award was founded just last year by the Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL). The award selection committee is comprised of nine librarians who work in K-12 school districts throughout the state of Missouri. You can offer your suggestions for consideration at the Dogwood Readers Award website. Continue reading “2020-21 Dogwood Award Finalists”
For the delightfully short month of February, I’ve got some romance and some thrillers. All of these books have a February release date, so if they’re not here physically yet, look for the eBook! I love not having to wait for shipping on digital items.
“Yesterday Is History” by Kosoko Jackson
When Andre receives a liver transplant, it does more than save his life. Six months after the procedure, he wakes up outside his house in the year 1969. After meeting a confident and attractive boy who lives in Andre’s future house, Andre slips back into the present. His donor’s family contacts him and explains the genetic gift of time traveling that he’s inherited. They task their son Blake with teaching Andre how to time travel, and Andre must make sense of his attraction to the boy in the past and the one in his present. Refreshingly, the book also explores the differences between Andre’s experiences in the past as a young Black man, and the experience of Blake’s affluent white family. Continue reading “The Selector’s Selections: February 2021”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Unbound Book Festival is entirely online. Unbound is hosting a variety of weekly author panels, poetry readings and writing workshops through April. Review their full schedule for more details.
Next Thursday, February 18 at 7 p.m., Unbound will host “Mask Off/Mask On” with authors Dean Atta and Elizabeth Lim. Tune in on Facebook or YouTube as these acclaimed YA authors discuss their characters’ fight to defy gender and societal expectations.
Dean Atta is the author of “The Black Flamingo.” This book is a coming-of-age story about a young man who is coming to terms with his identity as a mixed-race gay teen, then, at university, he finds his wings as a drag artist, The Black Flamingo. This novel in verse was awarded the Stonewall Book Award for exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience. It was also among School Library Journal’s Best Books of 2020. Continue reading “YA Author Panel: Mask Off/Mask On”
Early every year, the American Library Association (ALA) hosts its annual Youth Media Awards Press Conference. At this time, authors and illustrators of children’s and young adult literature are honored for the outstanding works they have published over the last year.
Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards guide parents, educators, librarians and others in selecting the best materials for youth. Selected by judging committees of librarians and other literature and media experts, the awards encourage original and creative work. Below are those awards honoring distinguished books for young adult readers.
Alex Award Winners are the 10 best adult books that appeal to a teen audience.
Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults:
Award Winner: “Everything Sad Is Untrue” by Daniel Nayeri
Honor Book: “Apple (Skin to the Core)” by Eric Gansworth
Honor Book: “Dragon Hoops” by Gene Luen Yang
Honor Book: “Every Body Looking” by Candice Iloh
Honor Book: “We Are Not Free” by Traci Chee
Continue reading “2021 Young Adult Award Winners”
